If you are experiencing morning sickness (or afternoon sickness, evening sickness, or even all day sickness) as part of your pregnancy you may be wondering why. You may also be wondering who it happens to, when it will end, and whether there is anything you can do about it. Here are a few basics to help you understand and cope with the mystery that is morning sickness.
Why do pregnant women get morning sickness? There is no definitive answer to this question, but it has been studied and a number of possible causes have been identified. The hormonal changes of early pregnancy are probably a major contributing factor to nausea and vomiting. Other changes happening in the body such as an increased sensitivity to odors and a more sensitive gag reflex may also play a part in causing it as well.
Who gets morning sickness? About three quarters of all pregnant women experience some type of nausea and or vomiting during the first trimester of their pregnancy. If your mother or your sister had morning sickness, you are more likely to experience it than women who do not have a family history of morning sickness.
When will it end? For many women, symptoms of morning sickness subside around fourteen weeks. Sometimes, relief does not come until a woman is approximately eighteen weeks pregnant. For a few unfortunate women, morning sickness comes and goes (or is constant) throughout the entire pregnancy.
What can you do about it? Believe it or not, eating can help. More specifically, eating smaller, more frequent meals to prevent your stomach from getting empty may help reduce or eliminate your symptoms. Also, eating a small snack such as a few crackers about thirty minutes before getting out of bed in the morning can be helpful. Avoiding fatty foods and foods with strong odors can make you more comfortable.
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